Having faced serious threat from mechanised boats involved in ‘stay fishing’ in the high-seas, the fibreglass boat fishermen of the district have appealed to Collector M. Karunakaran to take immediate measures to check the threat being posed by these larger vessels.
Petition
In a petition submitted to Collector M. Karunakaran on Tuesday, the confederation said fishermen, living in seven coastal hamlets in the district, were operating over 1,300 fibreglass boats and their fishing operations were confined to only four nautical miles (6 km).
ADVERTISEMENT
Of late, they were facing threats from invading mechanised boats from Kanyakumari, Colachel and neighbouring Kerala, which damage the fibreglass boats and the fishing nets completely during night since these larger vessels carry out ‘stay fishing.’
When the mechanised boats involved in ‘stay fishing’ carryout fishing operations in the places close to the coast during night, the larger vessels destroy the boats and the fishnets also.
“At times, these mid-sea mishaps cause loss of life besides destroying boats and nets,” said S. Jones, president of the confederation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hence, the petitioners appealed to the Collector that the mechanised boats should be asked to carryout fishing operations beyond 4 nautical miles from the shore so that the safety of the fibreglass boat fishermen could be ensured.
They also appealed to the Collector to organise the monthly grievance day meeting for the fishermen as most of the welfare schemes meant for the coastal people had not reached them.
The mechanised boats take up ‘stay fishing’ at nights and damage fibreglass boats and fishing nets